The Spirit Gives Life

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” -2 Corinthians 3:6

This verse speaks to me today.  I spent yesterday watching several shows on a channel of television of the Seventh Day Adventists.  It's followers are, usually, devout, mission-oriented and true lovers of God.  They call themselves Seventh Day Adventists as they believe in the seventh day Sabbath of Saturday, the last day of the week.  They give very strong credence to all of the laws in the bible.  I love this denomination for their passion to live for Christ.  Yet, at the end of the day of listening to them, I was extremely disheartened.  I cannot come close to living a pure life by God's written laws.  What's more, I believe that there is a living spiritual warfare constantly at work.  I was reminded how much it appears that worldly influences affect our very souls.  It makes me want to live in a bubble.  It kills my spirit of following the great commission,...winning souls to Christ.

As we live in this world, I struggle with how to guard my children's hearts who so much want to participate in  some of the lives of their friends.  Seeing my children in their social struggles gives me a microcosm of the challenges in a secular world.

I thank God that He gave us Christ, the atoning lamb.  His blood purifies us that the Holy Spirit may come reside with us to live a life acceptable to God and useful to His purposes.  Our response of gratitude should move us in a direction of life that gravitates to His holiness.  But, God uses us as we are, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to be ambassadors to His eternal kingdom.

The Spirit gives life. The law, however desirable, provides a standard that I cannot meet without Christ.

Sunday may be an original day of worship to a pagan God of the Sun.  I don't know how to reach a world teaching the laws.  I can reach hearts trying to live for Christ.

May God bless you as you allow His Holy Spirit to take residence in your hearts.  Peace.